Steering system with haptic driver warning

Abstract

A steering column assembly ( 18 ) of the type for controlling one or more steerable wheels in a motor vehicle includes a steering wheel ( 14 ) interface secured to the free end of a steering column ( 20 ). The steering column assembly ( 18 ) includes powered telescope adjust and tilt adjust features which a driver ( 16 ) uses to adjust the position of the steering wheel ( 14 ) for maximum comfort. One or more condition sensors ( 48 ) monitor numerous parameters about the vehicle. When an emergency condition is detected, such as the seat belt warning, a door that is ajar, various engine conditions, or erratic driving activity, a haptic controller ( 50 ) rapidly vibrates the steering wheel ( 14 ) through the telescoping and tilt adjusting motors ( 32, 40 ) as a means of alerting the driver ( 16 ) to the emergency condition. These warnings can be given priority so that a first warning is communicated by steering wheel ( 14 ) vibrations in one direction, and a second warning is communicated by vibrations in both the first direction and a second direction simultaneously. In addition, a third warning can be given emphasis by increasing the power of the vibration to a resonance mode to cause an audible warning.

1. A steering column assembly of the type for controlling one or more steerable wheels in a vehicle, said assembly comprising:
 a steering column having a free end and a steering axis extending from said free end; 
 a steering wheel secured to said free end of said steering column for manual rotation by a driver in a plane generally perpendicular to said steering axis; 
 an adjustment actuator for relocating the rotation plane of said steering wheel to improve driver comfort; 
 a sensor for detecting the occurrence of an emergency condition; and 
 a haptic controller responsive to said sensor for automatically energizing said adjustment actuator in response to the detection of said emergency condition whereby driver attention to said emergency condition is focused by the unexpected movement of said steering wheel to a different rotation plane. 
 
     
     
       2. The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said adjustment actuator translates the rotation plane of said steering wheel. 
     
     
       3. The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said adjustment actuator tilts the rotation plane of said steering wheel together with said steering axis. 
     
     
       4. The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said emergency condition includes at least one of the following conditions: seat belt unfastened, door ajar, engine alert, driver drowsiness symptom, and unsafe lane change detection. 
     
     
       5. The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said haptic controller creates an audible noise. 
     
     
       6. The assembly of  claim 1  further including a second adjustment actuator for relocating the rotation plane of said steering wheel in a direction different than that of the first said adjustment actuator, said haptic controller automatically energizing said second adjustment actuator in the event said emergency condition persists for more than a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
       7. A method of alerting a driver of a vehicle to an emergency condition with the vehicle having a steering column defining a steering axis, a steering wheel rotatable about the steering axis in a rotation plane and an adjustment mechanism for moving the rotation plane of the steering wheel to improve driver comfort, said method comprising the steps of:
 detecting the emergency condition; and 
 automatically energizing the adjustment mechanism in response to the detection of the emergency condition to move the rotation plane of the steering wheel whereby driver attention to the emergency condition is focused by the unexpected movement of the steering wheel. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7  wherein said step of automatically energizing the adjustment mechanism to move the rotation plane of the steering wheel includes translating the rotation plane in linear reversing directions along the steering axis. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 7  wherein said step of automatically energizing the adjustment mechanism to move the rotation plane of the steering wheel includes tilting the rotation plane in arcuate reversing directions. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 7  wherein said step of detecting the emergency condition includes at least one of the following predetermined conditions: seat belt unfastened, door ajar, engine condition alert, driver drowsiness symptom, and unsafe lane change detection. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 7  further including the step of creating an audible noise in response to the detection of the emergency condition. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 7  wherein said step of automatically energizing the adjustment mechanism and moving the rotation plane includes simultaneously translating and tilting the rotation plane of the steering wheel if the emergency condition persists more than a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
       13. A method of alerting a driver of a vehicle to an emergency condition with the vehicle having a steering wheel rotatable in a steering plane, said method comprising the steps of:
 detecting the emergency condition; 
 automatically moving the rotation plane of the steering wheel in response to the detection of the emergency condition; 
 escalating the movement of the rotation plane if the emergency condition persists more than a predetermined period of time. 
 
     
     
       14. A method as set forth in  claim 13  wherein the step of escalating the movement of the rotation plane includes simultaneously translating and tilting the rotation plane of the steering wheel.